Mekong Delta Itinerary: How to Plan Your Trip
A practical overview of the Mekong Delta — where to go, how many days you need, and how to link Can Tho, Hau Giang, and Soc Trang into one trip.
The Mekong Delta is Vietnam's rice bowl — a flat, green maze of rivers, floating markets, and fruit orchards south of Ho Chi Minh City. Most travelers see it on a rushed day tour from Saigon; if you have more time, it rewards a slower, multi-stop route.
How much time do you need
- 1 day: A floating market day trip from Ho Chi Minh City, usually centered on Cai Be or My Tho. You'll see the region but won't get far from the bus.
- 2–3 days: Enough to base yourself in Can Tho for the region's best-known floating market, then branch out to one quieter province.
- 4+ days: Time to link Can Tho with Hau Giang and Soc Trang — the route we'd recommend if the Delta is a real focus of your trip, not a detour.
A simple route
- Ho Chi Minh City → Can Tho (around 3–3.5 hours by road)
- Can Tho, 2 nights — Cai Rang floating market at sunrise, fruit orchards, riverside cafés
- Can Tho → Hau Giang (day trip or 1 night) — quieter canals, fewer tour groups
- Hau Giang → Soc Trang (1–2 nights) — Khmer pagodas and a different cultural layer than the rest of the Delta
- Back to Ho Chi Minh City or onward to Phu Quoc
Getting there
Most itineraries start and end in Ho Chi Minh City. If your trip begins or ends at the airport there, it's worth sorting out the transfer in advance rather than negotiating on arrival — GetTransfer's Ho Chi Minh City airport guide covers what to expect and how to book ahead.
Booking transport between stops
The stops above are a starting point, not a fixed plan — the right order depends on how much time you have and what you want to see. Once you've settled on a route, our travel partners can quote transfer and tour prices for each leg.